Spinning ring and traveler



Feb. 4, 1930. Q MERRlLL 1,745,835

SPINNING RING AND TRAVELER Filed July 2, 1929 Fig. 1.

l nvenTof.

Charles F Merrill I ATTys.

Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. MERRILL, OF HOIEEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COR- PORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF 'MAINE SPINNING RING AND TRAVELER Application filed July 2,

This invention relates to improvements in spinning rings and travelers and the general object thereof is to provide ring and travelerengaging surfaces, the mutual frictional and wear-resisting properties of which will permit the proper functioning of the traveler during the usual spinning operation, with a minimum of destructive abrasion of the contacting metallic surfaces.

One of the objectsof the invention is to provide a spinning ring composed of an alloy comprising steel and a metal having the property of inhibiting grain growth When subjected to high temperatures of carburizing, hardening or tempering, and thereby presenting wearing surfaces of greater homogeneity and uniformity of hardness, and

which has greater resistance to destructive abrasion by the traveler than the compositions heretofore used for spinning rings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spinning ring comprising a ferrous alloy containing carbon and molybdenumin such proportions as to provide a material possessing abrasion-resisting qualities after suitable hardening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spinning ring, and preferably also a traveler, comprising a ferrous alloy containing molybdenum as the principal and effective alloying element, together with carbon, and with orwvithout other elements which may be'introduced to modify and promote the beneficial properties contributed by the molybdenum, to produce a composition capable of acquiring the hardness and surface finish desired in co-operating spinning rings and travelers.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide a spinning ring and traveler formed respectively of metal alloys which after. suitable hardening have materially different .frictional properties operable when mated to produce suflicient friction to cause-the proper functioning of the traveler, while minimizing the abrasion which wouldresult 1 if the frictional properties of the traveler and ring respectively were the same.

Another-object of the invention is to provide a spinning ring of fibrous metallic struc- 1929. Serial No. 375,501.

ture having flanges presenting traveler-engaging surfaces representing transverse sections of the fibrous structure, minimizing the cross sectional areas of the individual structural units exposed to engagement by the traveler.

More particularly the object of the invention is to provide a spinning ring having a cylindrical web with flanges extending laterally therefrom, comprising a fibrous ferrous alloy containing molybdenum, with the fibrous structure disposed in substantial parmolybdenum, with a spinning ring blank severed from the end thereof;

Fig. 2 is a view partially in vertical section and partially in elevation of a spinning ring and traveler illustrating the fibrous structure of the material extending in such direction that the traveler-engaging surfaces of the ring represent transverse sections of the fibrous structure exposing minimum cross sectional areas of the individual units thereof, and also illustrating the exposed ends of such units as condensed to produce a substantially homogeneous smooth traveler-engaging surface; and,

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a different form of spinning ring and traveler.

In order accurately to describe the novel features of the invention it is desirable to review briefly the practical considerations which obtain in the manufacture and operation of spinning rings. Y

The traveler, which co-operates with the spinning ring, is guided and restrained in a room, and it is well known that under certain conditions of speed and pressure between the traveler and ring, frictlonal resistance and resulting heat and-abrasion increases with the increase in humidity. of thesurrounding atmos here.

i of. roducing hardness.

n u I u 0 vention consists in PIOVldln perior finish. and polish. -I have discovered that an alloy of e abrasion ,which oceursbetween the traveler and the spinning ring is mainly dependent upon the character and condition of the contacting surfaces, and,one of the objects of the invention is toprovide a spinning ring with asubstantially homogeneous surface of suchsmoothness, hardness and frictional characteristics that when mated to a suitable traveler will produce only suflicient friction 'tocause proper "functioning of the traveler with a minimum of destructive abrasion of thecontacting metal surfaces.

This is accomplished in the present invention by providing a spinning ring made of a special alloy which is adapted to provide a metallic surface finely grained and otherwise having beneficial frictional properties and further by constructing the ring from a stock of fibrous structure so disposed that the traveler-engaging surfaces represent substantiallyitransverse sections of the fibrous structure minimizing the cross sectional areas of theindividual structural units exposed to engagementby thetraveler.

' Ordinary spinning rings and travelers are made of ferrous material in which the principal components are iron and carbon, either without'alloyingelements, or with alloying elements introduced mainly for the purpose features of the in- V a spinning rin'gformed of an alloy containing a metal which, when the ring is subjected to the temneof the principal peraturesof carburizing' and hardening, will inhibit grain growth so that the ring instead of having a. coarse grainsurface will present a fine grain surface adapted to receive a su-.

steel, preferably low carbon steel, havin a proper percentage of molybdenum, provi ing a material which will-inhibit grain growth when heated to high temperatures, and which will be free cuttlng, is especially adapted to the formation of the diflicult cross-sections of,

spinning rings; that it will widen the range of temperatures that may be used in heating for carburizing, hardening or tempering, and will, when suitably hardened, possess abrasion-resisting qualities superior to other materials which have heretofore been used in spinning rings.

All of these features are of specific and economic advantage in the practical operation of producing spinning rings and in the functioning of the rings so produced.

I have found that a very satisfactory alloy for spinning rings, which are to be carbu rized in the preparation for hardening, comprises a steel containing approximately 15% to 25% carbon and 25% to 1% molybdenum. Nickel may also be alloyed with the above in the proportion of 1.5% to 3.5% for the purpose of increasing the strength of the metal, and otherwise beneficially modifying the properties of the alloy.

Spinning rings made of the above compositions when hardened and finished present traveler-engaging surfaces of great homogeneity and uniformity of hardness and very resistant to destructive abrasion by the action of the traveler.

It is a well known principle of mechanical construction that rubbing surfaces of unlike composition are generally more resistant to mutual abrasion than surfaces which are substantially identical in character. This principle is employed in the present invention by using for one member, preferably the spin-' ning ring, a ferrous alloy containing ,molyb-- denum which when suitably hardened has inherent surface qualities which are more abrasive-resistant than an iron-carbon composition without molybdenum, and for the other, preferably the traveler, a ferrous alloy containing molybdenum in such relatively smaller proportions as to produce, after suitable hardening, a materialhaving different frictional pro erties from those of the member with which it is to co-operate. The traveler, however, may be of any suitable ma terial having different frictional properties from those of the spinning ring.

I have demonstrated'in practice that the introduction of a considerable proportion of molybdenum into one of the members, particularly the ring, and considerably less molybdenum in the other member, affects the Ill frictional phenomena at the point or line of contact in such a manner as to minimize the tendency of metallic surfaces to seize or adhere particularly in a humid atmosphere, while at the same time sufficient resistance is offered to the traveler movement to permit the traveler to perform thefunction of maintaining proper tension in the-yarn being spun. A very satisfactory allo for travelers, which are'to be carburize when used with spinning rings having a proportion of molybdenum above described, comprises iron containing approximately 0% to .05% carbon and 01% to 03% of molybdenum.

The invention, therefore, comprises a cooperating ring and traveler combination which by virtueoftherelative differences in the composition of its members provides contacting surfaces having different frictional properties and thereby minimizes the abrasion of the contacting metal surfaces under usual conditions of spinning.

In the usual manufacture of spinning rings the blanks for making the rings are commonly produced by forging, the methods in use being: (1) A bar of forged steel of proper length is bent into circular shape and the ends welded together, making a continuous ring which is afterwards turned and finished. (2) A small rectangular section of forged metal is pierced at its center when hot and in a malleable condition. and by means of suitable mandrels and rollers, is expanded and formed to the desired diameter and cross section. A flat bar of rolled material is compressed between suitable dies which expand the metal and force it into the die impressions, thereby providing a ring having a solid central web, and also a Web extending from the periphery thereof. These webs are cut away and rings turned and finished as aforesaid.

Each of the processes above described has a definite and recognizable effect upon the arrangement of the structural components of the metal. It is well known that commercial steel and iron contain impurities and inclusions which are distributed irregularly throughout the mass of the material. They may be non-metallic inclusions, as slag, or seggregated metallic compounds as iron sulphides, phosphides, oxides, etc. In rolled or drawn bars or plates, these impurities exist as streaks, threads, or striations, enclosed within the metal, forming a structure which is'termed the fibre of the steel.

It follows that when such bars are subjected to the forming treatments above described, the fibre structure is distorted. In thefirst mentioned method, the fibrous structure follows substantially circular lines, ex-

cept for a moreor less confused and irregular formation at the welded junction. The sec 0nd and third methods produce different forms, but are somewhat similar to each other in that the fibres which were parallel in the original bar have been divided and spread concentric with the circumference. Between these four points, the fibres lie in progressively changing directions from one extreme above described which have been compressed and extended by usual processes of rolling, drawing, forging, etc.

It is well known that non-metallic inclusions are not capable of'being' hardened to' the same degree as steel, if at all. Also that impurities, such as sulphides and phosphides of iron may be affected by heat treatment to pr0duce different degrees of hardness from that of the surrounding metal.

It is obvious that the arrangement of the fibrous structure of the ring, formed by any of the methods above described, lies'in a pattern which, when intersected by the circular inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the ring, exposes irregular and widely varying sectional areas of elongated structural components of the metal. Also that as a result of this condition, the surface may have relatively large areas of different degrees of hardness, frictional and wear-resisting properties, and be subject to non-uniform wear under the abrasive influence of the traveler.

The present invention contemplates the reduction of such objections to a minimum by so forming the spinning rings that the ends of the fibrous structural components are ex posed at the surfaces of the flanges which are engaged by the traveler, thereby presenting minimum individual units of area of the fibrous structural components.

ricate spinnin rings from a material (1) which has a high degree of metallic purity, or conversely, a minimum of undesirable nonmetallic impurities, and (2) so to section the material in cutting that minimum areas of unavoidable impurities and structural irregularities are exposed at the traveler-engaging surface.

A further refinement may be obtained by condensing and consolidating the exposed fibrous ends preferably by rolling pressure in accordance with the method disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,555,685, granted September 29, 1925, thereby effectively obliterating the exposed ends of non-metallic impurities and providin a substantially homogeneous surface capa le of being accurately finished and highly polished and which may gressively changes from two extreme orientabe tempered to a uniform hardness.

tions in each quadrant of its circumference.

At opposite points on the axis of the original bar, the fibres are disposed substantially radially. .Half-way between these points, the fibres approximate a circular direction, or

The blank for forming rings in this manner is illustrated in the drawing, in which Fig. 1' illustrates a metal bar 1 which has been bored axially to provide a hollow cylinder, or which may be a metal tube from which By this means it becomes possible to fab- I I blanks 2 have been cut of a proper size to be turned into the form of spinning rings.

The bar or tube 1 may be of rolled or drawn stock in which the fibrous structure extends stantial parallelism with the axis thereof,

1 thereby presenting the ends 3 of the fibrous structure at the ends of the ring.

When a usual form of spinning ring, such as that illustrated in Fig. 2, is produced from the blank 2'shown in Fig. 1, the machining of the blank produces a construction in which the flanges present traveler-engaging surfaces 4 representing transverse sections of the fibrous structure substantially normal thereto, thereby exposing minimum cross sectional areas of the individual structural units, and consequently minimizing the area of impurities and inclusions exposed at such travelerengaging surfaces, so that the traveler-engaging surfaces are, more nearly homogeneous than those heretofore produced by usual methods, and are capable of being more uni-.

formly hardened.

Where spinning rings are made from the steel and molybdenum composition above described, metal of greater purity may be used with less impurityand a finer grain exposed at the traveler-engaging surfaces of thering, so that such surfaces are inherently substantially homogeneous and capable of being very uniformly hardened. Such surfaces are also more resistant to destructive abrasion than the traveler-engaging surfaces of rings heretofore produced. The'fibre ends, which are exposed at .the traveler-engaging surfaces, may be further condensed and consolidated as above described to provide a surface which when finished is of great homogeneity and uniform hardness.

In Fig. 3 a spinning ring of a different type z is illustrated in which the trave Ier-engaging --subs tant ially to inhibit grain growth when senting 'wearin surfaces 5 represent transverse conic sections of the fibrous structure, thereby minimizing the cross sectional areas of the/individual units exposed to engagement by the traveler.

It will, therefore, be obvious that the present invention is applicable to spinning rings of different types. r

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A spinning ring composed of an alloy comprising steel and molybdenum in' such proportions as to facilitate freecutting and subjectedto high temperatures of carburizing, hardening or tempering, and thereby pre surfaces of great homogeneity and uni ormity ofhardness.

' 2'. A spinning ring coin-prising an alloy of steel haying approximately .15% to 25% of carbon and with a proximately 25% to 1% of molybdenumsu sequently to be hardened. Q. 3, spinning comprising an'alloy of steel having approximately .15% to 25% of carbon and with approximately..25% to 1% of molybdenum, and with approximately 1.5% to 3.5% of nickel, subsequently to be hardened.

4. A spinning ring and traveler comprising different alloys of steel with molybdenum, the percentage of carbon and molybdenum in the alloys of the ring and traveler being sufficiently different to cause the ring and traveler to have, after suitable hardening, different frictional properties, operable when mated to produce sufficient friction to cause proper functioning of the traveler with a minimum of destructive abrasion of the con tacting metallic surfaces.

5. A spinning ring and traveler comprising different alloys of steel with molybdenum, the relative proportions of carbon and molybdenum in the ring and traveler being, before carburization, respectively, for the spinning ring .15-% to 25% carbon, 25% to 1% molybdenum, and for the traveler .O% to 05% carbon and .Ol-% to .03% molybdenum.

'6. A spinning ring comprising a fibrous alloy of steel and molybdenum having flanges presenting traveler-engaging surfaces representing transverse sections of the fibrous structure minimizing the cross sectionalareas of the individual structural units exposed to engagement by the traveler.

7. A spinning ring composed of a fibrous alloy of steel and molybdenum having traveler-engaging surfaces representing transverse sections of the fibrous structure minimizing the cross sectional areas of the individual structural units exposed to engagement by the traveler, and having said exposed units condensed, consolidated and tempered to present a substantially homogeneous metallic wearing surface of uniform hardness. v

8. A spinning ring comprising a fibrous alloy of steel, molybdenum and nickel having flanges presenting traveler-engaging surfaces representing transverse sections of the fibrous structure minimizing the cross sec tional areas of the individual structural units exposed to engagement by the traveler, and having said exposed units condensed, consolidated and tempered to present a substantially homogeneous metallic wearing surface 

